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Walkers in the city and everywhere

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Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#41

Post by janandonly »

great_psy wrote: post #2

For anybody interested in being more present while walking, I recommend photography. You will become more aware of your surroundings if you look for cool things to photograph. I recomand using an actual camera, the quality of it is irrelevant. Using your phone will be a distraction since you open it to take a photo, but see a notification from x and then you will at least think about how to respond, even if you don’t…

After reading Digital Minimalism (or, possibly, already before it) I decided to switch off most notifications. If someone needs to reach me, just call. The calls from known numbers will come through. All else is mostly useless anyway.

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#42

Post by Zambyte »

blitzar wrote: post #16
Zambyte wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Related to this: I have been working towards not carrying a phone around at all. Being a hyperconnected and reachable as we tend to be nowadays does not feel healthy. I recently set up a JMP Chat account so I can proxy SMS and calls to my XMPP account.

Super advanced pro level - keep the phone and just don't spend the whole time playing with it. Also when a notification comes in just ignore it. If it is important, they will leave a message. It's like having a cigarette in your mouth, a lighter in your hand and not smoking - if you can do that then you have truly kicked your addiction.

But why not get rid of the phone when I feel like I'll get to the same result (breaking my addiction) way faster than keeping it?

I've tried not spending my time on my phone for years. Guess what I'm doing right now.

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#44

Post by AlbertCory »

aidenn0 wrote: post #15
AlbertCory wrote: post #7

flâneur: a great word. when I see all these people walking around staring at their phones, I want to slap them with that word. Whatever it is on your phone, it'll wait. Whatever's happening in front of you: that will not wait, and it'll never come again.

That's at least superficially also true when I'm sitting on the toilet. Every sunset is unique, and so is every bowel movement.

and your point is...?

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#45

Post by AlbertCory »

codetrotter wrote: post #27
AlbertCory wrote: post #7

flâneur: a great word. when I see all these people walking around staring at their phones, I want to slap them with that word. Whatever it is on your phone, it'll wait. Whatever's happening in front of you: that will not wait, and it'll never come again.

Before phones people had ways to bury their noses still. Newspapers, for example. Let's not pretend that phones are some great big problem. Embrace it. Let people escape their daily life a bit if they want.

Generally people who are bored are, themselves, boring.

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#46

Post by AlbertCory »

codetrotter wrote: post #27
AlbertCory wrote: post #7

flâneur: a great word. when I see all these people walking around staring at their phones, I want to slap them with that word. Whatever it is on your phone, it'll wait. Whatever's happening in front of you: that will not wait, and it'll never come again.

Before phones people had ways to bury their noses still. Newspapers, for example. Let's not pretend that phones are some great big problem. Embrace it. Let people escape their daily life a bit if they want.

An easy test with AI: analyze 1000's of crowd scenes from 1970 (probably easy for Manhattan streets) to see what percentage were walking while looking at some print material vs. scenes from now with smartphones.

Your assertion is it'll be the same. I'm willing to take that bet.

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#47

Post by aidenn0 »

AlbertCory wrote: post #44
aidenn0 wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's at least superficially also true when I'm sitting on the toilet. Every sunset is unique, and so is every bowel movement.

and your point is...?

> Whatever it is on your phone, it'll wait. Whatever's happening in front of you: that will not wait, and it'll never come again.

Just because something is unique and ephemeral doesn't mean it's worth your attention.

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#48

Post by aidenn0 »

AlbertCory wrote: post #45
codetrotter wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before phones people had ways to bury their noses still. Newspapers, for example. Let's not pretend that phones are some great big problem. Embrace it. Let people escape their daily life a bit if they want.

Generally people who are bored are, themselves, boring .

and your point is...?

Re: Walkers in the city and everywhere

#49

Post by AlbertCory »

aidenn0 wrote: post #47
AlbertCory wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

and your point is...?

> Whatever it is on your phone, it'll wait. Whatever's happening in front of you: that will not wait, and it'll never come again. Just because something is unique and ephemeral doesn't mean it's worth your attention.

You: I don't need to watch this sunset, there'll be better ones.

Reaper: Not for you, though. Come with me, please. No need to bring anything.

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